Miniature-aeroplane construction



T'Sept. 9'", 1924.

A. E. PQHLMAN MINIATURE AEROPLANE CONSTRUCTION FiledMarph 24, 1923 x mm w m m m Wh N 1 A E r u 1 m I P ymw 9B 3 -i pf I n i W w w a 4 3 z 1 3 6 w 9 i 3 v r 3 V Patented Sept. 9, 1924.

,aarnon mm, or WEST .aLLI's, wrsoonsmg.

MINIATURE-AEROPLANE oonsrauor'ron.

Application filed March 24, 1923. Serial No. 627,315.

To all whom it mag concern: 4

Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. Ponnmm, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of West Allis, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsimhave invented certain new and useful Improved Miniature-Aeroplane Constructions; and I do declare the following to be a clear, exact,

and complete description thereof, such as,

will enable others skilled in the art to which the invention relates to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, as illustrating a construction in which the invention has been embodied and showing also the succession of operations pertaining to such construction.

The invention relates to a miniature aeroplane construction and resides in such construction, as well as in the simplified operations and reduction in the number of parts involved in its manufacture. The purposes of the invention are the production ofa toy aeroplane of novel form, which may be easily manipulated, operating smoothly, and by means of a shapedpropeller which israpidly rotated by the pressure of the atmosphere, will produce a sound simulating that of aeroplanes existing in practical. form.

Aeroplanes of this type are known, but their cost of construction is great by reason of the many operations required in the manufacture and assembly of the parts, aswell as the time required for such assembly. .My

invention overcomes the objections which have been encountered heretofore in similar structures and I am able to produce a miniature aeroplane with fewer parts, I

The polygonal body or fuselage is formed from a single piece which is blanked from a sheet of suitable material, an appropriate contour being imparted to such blank at the time of its production. Coincidentally with the production of the fuselage blank the rudder and stabilizing tail fins are producedin the form of extensions of crtam of the side members of the fuselage. The structural elements constituting these parts are always, therefore," in their proper relative ositions, so that the operation of assem- Eling involves merely the shaping of the fuselage on the lines connecting the parts, and by simple further operations securing such parts in position.

The guiding and sustaining planes together with the standards connecting them in a by-plane are likewise produced in a single blanking operation, and in the assembl it is necessary only to bend theconnecte parts into proper positions and secure their attachment.

In the practice of my invention, I have, therefore, eliminated many of the more tedious operations required in assembling the older structures, and have greatly facilitated the manufacture of devices of this class, and in a much more economicalmanner.

' Other details of the invention willbe referred to hereinafter, .and the novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In-the drawing attached hereto:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a miniature aeroplane constructed in accordance with my invention.

F 'g. 2 is'a' plan view showing the contour of the blankwhich is designed to form the fuselage, and also the rudder andfins, to gether with some other features which will be hereinafter described.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blank embodying the wings of a bi-plane construction, together with the posts or standards and fastening devices, the latter being designed to secure the parts in assembled position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a blank designed to be shaped and secured at the under side of the device, in simulation of the ground wheels.

Fig; 5 illustrates the formation of the back-bone which extends longitudinally of the fuselage, and at the front thereof forms the pivot for the propeller.

Fig. '6 is a plan showing the contour of the blank from shaped. 1 Fig.3 shows in outline a blanked figure, which may be mounted upon the aeroplane for ornamental purposes or effecting further stabilizing of the same.

Referring to the drawings, the assembled miniature aeroplane is composed of the structural elements illustrated in the other figures. The blank 10, Fig. 2, is suitably contoured in one operationxto produce in one piece the four sides 11, 12, 13, and 14 of the fuselage, the points of connection of struction shown is squared in any crosssection. The part 12 has formed integrally therewith a portion which constitutes the V i be described.

.- a perforations'25 and 26 are similarly located with reference to the part 14, which-latter is also provided with. a perforation 27, de-

signed to be entered by the projection 28, extending laterally from the part 11. 'The finflis perforated at29 for the reception of a projection39 depending from the rudder.

The blank shown in Fig. 3 comprises the upper wing 31 and the lower wing 32, connccted by members'33 and 34, which form supporting standards. Like portions 35 and extend oppositely from the wing 31. The

i 4 "wing 32 is perforated at 37, 38, 39, and 40.- The remaining features of the blank shown 111 Fig. 3 will be described. o

In as'sel'nbling the device, the fuselage v blank 10 is folded on the dotted lines before referred to so as to produce a squared cen tral l ody41, the projection 28 onthe part 11' being passed through the perforation 27 in the part 14-,'and bent so that the end of the projection will lie parallelwith the part 14. In this formation the rudder 15 lies 7 parallel with the stabilizing fins 16, but the rudder is turned at an angle of 90 at the point of its connection with the part12, so

that the rudder will stand normal to the fin. The projection is passed through the perforation 29 in the fin 16, an'd'the ends of the projection turned so as to lie parallel at 5 the under side of the fin, the projection'beinglsplitto permit the fastening to extend m opposite directions. The back-bone 42, provided at its rear end with an angular projection 43, is passed into the open front end of the fuselage. and such projection 43 is seated in a perforation 44 formed in thefin 16. The tapering rear ends of the parts 11 and 13 are then brought together about the hack-bone. which is already embraced by the tapering rear ends of the parts 12 and 14. so as to form a compact structure of the parts. The binding piece 22 is wrapped around the parts, including the projection 18, which are thus brought into close relation, the ends of the binding piece being passed through the perforation 45 in the rudder 15 so as to complete the assembly at the rear of the fuselage.

The wings 31 and 32 and the standards 33 f Qj v 1,507,710"

- to 36 are folded at right angles at the points 1 of connection, so that the wings will a pear super-posed as shown in Fig. 1, an sustained in separated position. by the said standards. The free ends of the standards and 36, extending fromthe wing 31, are entered in the perforations 39 and 40 in the wing 32, and turned soas to lie against the wing 32 and secure the parts in the manner shown in Fig. 1; The standards '33-to'36 are provided-with laterally extending parallel portions 46, 47, '48, and 49 which may be bent at an angle so as toimPart-rigidity to the said standards. The circular ends 50 and 51 of the blank shown in Fig. 4 are bent at right angles to the central part 52, and

stand in parallelismwith each-other. Projections53 and 54, punched out'of the cen-' V tral portion 52 are entered in the perfora tions 37 and 38 of the lower wing 32, the

ends of such projections being turned to lie in parallelism with the wing 32, and thus attach the ground wheels to'the structure.

An ordinary cotter pin 55 may bepassed 1 l through central openings in the wheels 50 and 51.to simulate the axle of the wheels.

\the projections 56 and '57-'on the wing'32 are passed through the perforations 25 and 26 in thepart'14, and clinched, as before.

' The front endof the partially assembled 1*, fuselage is inserted between the wings, and j Projections 58fand 59," which may berein-e forced,'as-are the standards 33 to 36', extend xoppositely from the wing '31;- i

These projections are adapted to'bebent so as to stand. normal to the plane of the wing 31. at the under side-thereof and the free ends of the projections are entered in the perforations 23 and 24 in the part 12,v

and bent upon the inside of the 'fuselage The forward tapering ends of the parts .11, 12, 13 and 14 are now brought into closeengagement with the back-bone 42, and the binding strip 21 attached to the part 13 is wrapped around the projections 18, 19, and

' 20 on the parts 11.12, and 14, to complete the structure; The propeller 60 is now placed upon the forwardly extending end of the back-bone 42 so as to rotate freely thereon under atmospheric pressure when flight is given to the aeroplane. The bringing together of the tapering ends of the parts 11, 12, 13 and 14, in the manner hereinbefore described, constitute the fuselage as a body which is polygonal in cross-section, and'which tapers towards its opposite ends, that is, toward its front and toward its rear.

The miniature aeroplane is suspended in a state of equilibrium by a cord 61 attached at a point of balance, which may be the. part 59. The cord 61 will be of 'suitable length to permit the-free end thereof.

be held by the hand of the person, or at 105 .so as to lie parallel with the said part 12'. X

very attractive inasmuch as the whirring produced by the propeller simulates very closely that of the commercial planes.

An ornamental figure 61, constituted of the blank shown in Fig. 7 may be attached 10 to the wing 31 for purposes of ornamentation. The location with relation to the wing may be varied at pleasure and the figure may be in any desired form. In certain locations it will assist in maintaining the 1 equilibrium of the device. ,The part 61 may be provided with a clamp, as shown, for eflecting a frictional engagement with the edge of the wing, sufiicient to retain the said part in any of the positions in which it may be placed. If arranged in line with the rudder, the upstanding figure will assist in maintaining the equilibrium in a greater degree. If arranged at a point atone side of the lon "tudinal central vertical plane 5 of the fuse age, as in themanner shown, it

will, dependent upon its particular arrangement, assist'in stabilizing the' movement of the device more exactly in its circular path.

As indicated hereinbefore, the device will be produced from any suitable material in sheet form, and although I prefer to. use

thin metal sheets, I do not desire to be limited to such material. Ordinarily, the sheetmaterial employed in the production of the fuselage will possess. suflicient inherent rigidity to maintain the sides in proper position. But in case very thin metal is used, I may impart rigidity to the parts 11, 12, 13 and 14, and increase the ornamental appearance, by turning the edges thereof so as to form ribs or flanges 62, to reinforce the said parts and prevent deflection from the planes in which they extend.

Means other than those shown may be used for securing the parts when assembled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A miniature aeroplane, comprising a' graltherewith, with means on the rudder for efiecting locking engagement with the fin, and means integral with the fusela e for binding the tapering ends of the fuse ago.

2 In a miniature aeroplane, a polygonal fuselage tapering towards its ends and a rudder and stabilizing fin integral therewith, with means for effecting looking ongagement between the rudder and fin, and means integral with the fuselage for binding the tapering ends of the fuselage, in combination with wings attached and supported in separated position upon the fuselage by standards integral with the wings.

3. In a miniature aeroplane of the biplane type, .upper and lower wings connected and supported in separated position upon the fuselage by standards inte a1 with the wings, in combination with a uselage fixed between the wings and having a rudder and stabilizing fin integral with the fuselage.

4. A. miniature aeroplane comprising a polygonal fuselage tapering towards its ends and a rudder and stabilizing fin integ'ral therewith, a longitudinally extending back-bone, and means for binding the taperlage, and a figure changeable as to its location mounted upon one of the wings and adapted to cooperate with the rudder to further direct the aeroplane in its movement.

6. In a miniature aeroplane, and integral hollow fuselage' polygonal in cross section formed with sides tapering to its opposite end points and with a rudder and stabilizing fin also integral therewith, means formed on the rudder for locking the same in relation to the fin, and means for binding the said tapering sidesto produce tapering ends in the fuselage, in combination with wings supported by the fuselage.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this 17th day of March, 1923. a

A. E. POHLMAN.

Witnesses:

W. F. Woomnn, .S. WILLIAMS. 

